‘DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE’: For all his smooth, athletic and efficient offensive play in his first five games as a collegian, freshman James Bouknight knows what will get him more than just his current 17.7 minutes per game of playing time.

“Defense, defense, defense,” the 6-foot-4 guard said on Sunday.

That means not only guarding on the ball but also knowing where he needs to be on the floor at all times.

“I was never really known as a defensive player, but it’s something I’ve been working on,” Bouknight confessed. “It’s gotten much better since I first got here. I’m just gonna push myself to keep getting better at it.”

James Bouknight and UConn will face off against Indiana at Madison Square Garden in New York on Tuesday.

James Bouknight and UConn will face off against Indiana at Madison Square Garden in New York on Tuesday.

Photo: Jessica Hill / Associated Press

Photo: Jessica Hill / Associated Press

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James Bouknight and UConn will face off against Indiana at Madison Square Garden in New York on Tuesday.

James Bouknight and UConn will face off against Indiana at Madison Square Garden in New York on Tuesday.

Photo: Jessica Hill / Associated Press

Men’s basketball gameday: Indiana vs. UConn

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OH, ARCHIE!: Dan Hurley clashed with Indiana coach Archie Miller numerous times when they coached in the Atlantic 10 at Rhode Island and Dayton, respectively. At least one time, there was a bit of controversy — as to be expected with two high-energy, emotional coaches. Overall, there’s a mutual level of respect, and Hurley knows exactly what to expect from Miller’s Hoosiers on Tuesday night.

“Physical, defensive-minded, tough, very good in transition — makes and misses, they get the ball on top of you quickly,” Hurley noted. “Anytime you play a team coached by Archie or Sean (Miller’s older brother, who coaches Arizona), it’s gonna be a sound team. They’re gonna take good shots, they’re not gonna turn the ball over, play with good pace, rebound and defend.”

“They’re teams you always enjoy competing against, because you know they’re not gonna give you anything easy. With his teams and with my teams, I think we both know what it’s gonna be on Tuesday, in terms of how hard each team is gonna play.”

GARDEN PARTY: Playing at Madison Square Garden always adds a little extra energy for any college player — whether they’re from New York or not.

“Even for me, from down South, I’m still excited just to be there,” Josh Carlton quipped.

Add the fact that it’s a Jimmy V Classic doubleheader (Louisville-Texas Tech plays the opener at 7 p.m.) on ESPN, with Dickey V. on the mic, and the emotions will run even higher.

“It’s a different atmosphere, man, just to be able to play at Madison Square Garden,” said Alterique Gilbert.

“We’ve tried to simulate how tough and how hard this game is gonna be played, how hard Indiana plays, how physical the Big Ten is,” said Hurley. “We’ve really ramped it up here (in practice). We’re not trying to calm anybody down.”

HISTORY LESSON: UConn owns a 6-3 all-time advantage over Indiana. The Huskies won the last meeting, 59-58 to win the 2K Sports Classic at the Garden on Nov. 22, 2013. Indiana’s last victory came on Jan. 20, 2007.

This is UConn’s fourth appearance in the 25-year history of the Jimmy V Classic. UConn is 0-3 so far, with losses to NC State (2012), Maryland (2015) and Syracuse (2017).

It will also be Indiana’s fourth trip to the Jimmy V.

PROBABLE STARTERS

INDIANA

Player

Pos.

PPG

Aljami Durham

G

13.1

Armaan Franklin

G

5.0

Justin Smith

F

13.8

Trayce Jackson-Davis

F

14.8

Joey Brunk

F/C

7.2

UCONN

Player

Pos.

PPG

Christian Vital

G

14.8

Alterique Gilbert

G

10.1

Tyler Polley

G/F

10.5

Akok Akok

F

5.5

Josh Carlton

C

12.4

— David Borges

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